We expect a document to remove our concerns

SWITZERLAND (AA) – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat who chairs the TRNC delegation during four-party talks on Cyprus issue in Switzerland said on Monday that they expected the last version of the Annan plan which would be submitted by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to sides today to remove their concerns.

Talat noted that they did not expect any change in the map.

Talat told the Turkish Agency-Cyprus (TAK) that bargains continued till Monday morning.

"The last version of the Annan plan will be submitted to sides in the meeting with participation of Turkey, Greece, TRNC and Greek Cypriot delegations," he said and noted that they thought that Annan would present almost whole of the plan, not draft to sides.

Talat said, "the real plan is comprised of 150 pages, but it can reach 9 thousand pages with addition of laws prepared by technical committees in the island."

Replying to a question, Talat said, "I cannot make any assessment on the document without seeing it. We have received some information. We have demands and impressions, but it is wrong to talk about the document without seeing it. We expect a document which will remove our concerns and problems."

Talat stated that they also expected the map to be submitted to sides with the new version of the plan.

In regard to news stories which said that "28-29 percent in the last map would be reduced as a response to reduction in the number of Greek Cypriot people who would settle in north of the island, Talat said, "we don’t expect such a thing. I think the map will not change. We don’t expect any change in the ratio of land. Land cannot be a response to reduction in the number of Greek Cypriots who will return to the north of the island. I received commitment on this issue."

"We will complete examining the plan by working hard for two days day and night after its last version is submitted to the sides. The summit will end on March 31," he stated and noted that news stories which said that the summit could last longer were not true.

"This work will finish on March 31," Talat said and noted, "I believe that a satisfactory result will come out. If it does not come out, there will be problem in referendum. That’s why, we have to get a favorable result."

Talat said, "U.N. asked for written guaranty for referendum" and asked, "we have already made a law. Is there any guaranty which is more powerful than it?"